Ventilating fan



APYil 13,; 1943# w. A. sPEAR 2,316,634

VENTILATING FAN Filgd March 26, 1940 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5,2 5,0

Patented Apr. 13, 1943 .2,316,634l VENTILATING FAN Walter A. Spear, Cincinnati,v Ohio, assignor to Victor Electric Products, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporationkof Ohio Application March 26, 194Q, `Serial N0. 326,025

Claims.

' some types of installation; but for other` types of installation such a mounting is unsatisfactory. Also, such a mounting does not have the flexibility to meet the demands of the trade.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fan assembly for use with a panel selected from a. plurality of panels of various sizes, descriptions or types, which selected panel is adaptable for use with the particular window.

Another object of this invention is to provide a housing secured to the panel for supporting a fan unit, which fan unit, together with the prime mover, may be removed bodily from the housing and the panel for the purpose of cleanfing, repair and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for fastening the fan assembly to a/casement window, which means are provided with safety devices preventing the fan assembly from dropping out of the window opening in the event said means should become loosened.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fan assembly for use in windows, which fan assembly is universal in its adaptation, easily mounted, sealing the opening and at the'sam'e time sturdy, dependable, eicient and fool-proof.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a metallic window having a fan assembly mounted upon a panel fitting an unglazed space substantially equal in size to two window panes.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the fan assembly, showing the associated parts of the window in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed View of the securing device functioning as a safety rdevice when in the full line position.

Figure 4 is a detailed View of an inside View of the fan housing with the ,fan proper, the grill and the panel removed. s v

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an inside View of the grill, the motor and the fan removed from the fan housing.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the fan assembly.

Figures 8 and 9 show panels 'of various sizes and proportion, any one of which may be selected for use with standard sized fan housings,

Manufacturers of veasement and other metallic Windows standardize their yown products. Unfortunately, however, the standards of one manufacturer are not the same as those of another. One manufacturer may use one type of muntin bars spaced from each other differently from the spacing used by another manufacturer. The Windom manufacturers do not generally manufacture Ventilating fans adapted for use in theirwindows. Such fans are generally manufactured by a fan manufacturer.

In the present embodiment disclosed herein, the motor and the fan are attached to a grill mountedv in an insulating housing having an outer shell, preferably rectangular, and an inner sleeve, cylindrical in shape, supported upon any selected panel, selected from a plurality of panels o f various sizes and shapes to t differenttypes and lsizes of ,windows manufactured by Vcompeting manufacturers. In the embodiment shownherein a standard housing and 'a standard fan have been so constructed and arranged that theY standard housing and fan .may be utilized with a panel selected from a plurality of panels of various sizes, types and descriptions, manufactured to fit different windows now appearing on the market. It is merely necessary to select the panel which Alits the particular window opening left unglazed for ventilation and then secure the fan housing and the fan to this panel. The housing may first be attached to the panel, the panel and the housf ing then assembled in the window and finally, the

suitable vpull chain 28 having an enlarged bead for actuating the lever 24 in response to a manual pull on the pull chain 28. The operation of the chain and the switching assembly will be described more fully in association with the fan closure. A latch 32 is attached to the face of the grill Hl for holding the chain in any adjusted position.

Fan housing assembly The grill Hl is supported upon a plurality of brackets mounted upon a tubular sleeve 42 attached to an end wall 44 mounted on the outside of the window, as will appear more fully later. This end wall is provided with a circular opening of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the tubular sleeve 42. This end wall 44 is provided with inwardly directed flanges 46 supporting a rectangular shell 48, terminating in outwardly directed flanges 50 supporting a band or strip of flexible or yieldable insulating material 52, as seen in Figure 4. This insulating material 52 may be made from rubber, having embedded therein granules of cork, vulcanized into a homogeneous unit.

Mooably mounted cover or lid The opening in the end wall 44 may be closed yby a piVotally mounted cover or lid 60, supported upon hinges 62 and normally biased outwardly by a pair of coil springs E4, one adjacent each side of the cover. The cover or lid 60 is provided with an arcuate outwardly bulging portion 60a, having the main body portion lying substantially in a sector of a cylindrical surface, as best seen in Figure '7. This projection has been provided in the cover or lid 60 so as to improve upon the aerodynamic properties of the. assembly. It is to be noted that member 44 is provided with a shoulder 44a., projecting into a seat formed by the outwardly flaring flanges 30h, extending along three sides of the lid 60. This arrangement provides a water-tight joint between the lid 60 and the end wall 44, when the lid is held in closed position by the chain 28 held by the latch 32. It is to be noted that a spring 12J' has been disposed between the end of the chain 28 and an angle bracket 12 attached to the lid or cover 60. In order to prevent rain from driving in at the top of the lid, the juncture between the lid 6! and the wall 44 is protected by an overhanging ledge 7.4. This overhanging ledge 'i4 permits the springs 64 to swing the cover or lid 63 into open position, as shown in the dot dash position shown in Figure2j. The outwardly swinging movement of the lid 60 is limited by a bead 34 in the chain 28. This bead 34 is too large to pass through the aperture for the passage of the chain 28 through the grill ID'. Thus, when the chain is released from the latch 32, the lid or cover 68 swings into open position. Immediately upon the chainV 28 being released, the switch arm 24 is actuated by the push button 22 in a'clockwise direction. When the arm 24 releases the push button 22, the circuit through the motor is closed, causing the fan to rotate. The fan Acannot rotate when the lid 6E) is closed by pulling the chain 28, as the bead 30` actuates the lever 24 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, to actuate the push button switch 20, to open the circuit through the motor. The chain has a duo-functional purpose. It controls the lid En and simultaneously controls the switch 23, to open the lid 6D and. close the switchV 20, or vice versa, as the case may be.

1n Order torrevent the Chain 28, from oprns into the fan I4, the chain passes through a channel 33 located directly below the fan blades. This channel 33 is secured to the inner side of the sleeve 42.

The fan, the motor, the grill, the tubular sleeve, the end wall 44, the shell and the lid are shipped as a composite unit. From the foregoing description it is apparent that the grill, the motor and the fan may be removed from this composite unit by merely removing the screws 16 holding the grill in registry with the tubular sleeve 42.

The rectangular shell is not adaptable for mounting directly upon the muntin bars of a window assembly'. As a matter of fact, it is not feasible to attempt to stock assemblies having means for attaching each assembly to a window, due to the great variety and size of windows used by different manufacturers. That being the case, this composite unit is shipped as a unit without the. attaching means- Pre-selected panel A panel 83, selected from a plurality of panels of different sizes, shapes and types, is used for mounting the ian` assembly in an unglazed space formed by a plurality of intersecting mun-tin bars. This space has been left unglazed so as to permit the installation of the Ventilating fan assembly. If necessary, one or more of the muntin bars may terminate adjacent the open space, so as to provide a space sufliciently large for the mounting of the fan assembly.

The selected panel is selected to fit the particular opening lefty unglazed for the reception of they Ventilating fan. This panel, which is provided withV a circular opening, is attached by a plurality of screws 82 engaging rectangular bracketsr 84 having threaded openings therein and Xedly secured to the. rectangular shell 48. The opening in the panel is slightly larger than the diameter of the tubular sleever 42. The panel practically closes the opening between the rectangular frame 48, andv the tubular sleeve 42, leaving a small circular gapv between these parts. When the grill. l0 is mountedV in position, the outer periphery of the grill It. overlaps the edge of the panel 80,. so as to seal: the'V small gap between the. aperture in the panel 80 and the sleeve 42. Thus, the fan housing is mounted in the panel.

The panel. isY preferably provided with a. marginal iiange` portion 86,2 fitting into the normal glazing seatofthe transversely disposed muntin bars 93. In orderv to insulate the juncture between the muntin bars andthe panelY 80, a strip of rubber 93 having granules oiv cork impregnated and vulcanizedV therein is preferably placed between the outer. marginof the panel land the flanges 9,2 of themuntin'bars 9,0.

The p anel4 B -is heldinfrposii'fion-v by bolts 9,4one in each cornerofy the panel, passing through retaining lugs` |30. These. retaining lugs are so shaped that inthel event the bolts 94- become loosened,vthelugs will drop. into the full line position shown in. Figure 3. The outwardly flaring points H32r willl overlay' the iiange 92 ofthe muntin bar, thereby preventing the panel from droping out of position. In other words, the points L02 function as safety devices inA holding` ther assembly'in position inthe. event the boltsV should jar loose. The shape of the,l lugs issuch thatthe lugs may be rotated, soas. to clear the corners of the flangesr 92 ofV they muntin bars when the assembly is mounted in position.. Y

positioned that in the event the lug should become loosened and hang downwardly it would From the foregoing, it isvery apparent that Athe fan assembly may be mounted in position in different types of windows by merely selecting a panel that has been designed for the kparticular type of window. This permits the shipment of composite fan units in large quantities to warehouses, where the fans are held in readiness for installation. In the event a large order is received for a particular style and type of window, it`is merely necessary to order the particular panels from the factroy, in the event these are not in stock. The panels, as such, are easily manufactured to size, easily crated and shipped for use at the destination on short notice, Without a delay caused by manufacturing and shipping a large supply of fans. Thus, it is seen, that the selection of panels from a group of panels of various sizes and types eXpedites the installation, in that various sizes of panels may be kept on hand for use with the composite fan units also in storage, without the necessity of manufacturing a composite fan unit for each panel as it is shipped, thereby reducing the amount of money invested in inventory. When Ymounted in position, the fan assembly cannot fall out of the Window. The flexible packing members or gaskets insulate the panel with Vrespect to the muntin bars. The tubular sleeve mounted on the inside of the rectangular shell creates a dead air pocket functioning to insulate the unit.

Furthermore, whenever it is desirable'to clean, repaint or repair the fan and the motor, the fan and the motor may be removed as a unit by merely removing the screws in the grill, Without removing the housing and Without removing the panel from the window. The panel and the housing are located on the outside of the window. The grill I!) is the only portion that projects into the room. This grill may be chromium plated and the panel painted either a contrasting or a harmonizing color. Furthermore, the panel and/ or the grill may be painted in colors matching the interior decoration of the room.

Although the preferred modification of the device has been described, it will be understood that Within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out theobjects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A Ventilating fan assembly for use in mount- Y ing in a window having transversely disposed muntin bars dividing the window into spaces some of which are glazed and one or more spaces left unglazed for a Ventilating area, the combination including an electric fan, a housing for the electric fan, said housing having an air passage opening therein, a cover for closing the air passage opening when the fan is not in use, means for attaching the electric fan to the housing, a panel selected from a plurality of panels of various types, said panel being selected to fit into the Ventilating area, and a plurality of safety means for locking the panel in position, each of said safety means including a pivotal fastening memv ber mounted adjacent the corner of the panel, and a lug rotatably mounted upon said pivotal fastening member, said lug having a projection offset from the pivotal fastening member, said projection overlapping and engaging the adjacent muntin bars, said offset projection being so engage an adjacent muntin bar.

2. A Ventilating fan assembly for use in mounting in a window having transversely disposed .muntin bars dividing the window into spaces some of which are glazed and one or more left unglazed for a Ventilating area, the combination including an electric fan, a panel selected from a plurality of panels of various types having Ventilating passages therein, said panel being selected to nt into the Ventilating area of the window, means for attaching the fan to the panel, each of said means including a pivotal fastening member mounted adjacent the corner of the panel, and a lug rotatably mounted upon said pivotal fastening member, said lug having a projection offset from the pivotal fastening member, said projection overlapping and engaging the adjacent muntin bars, said offset projection being so positioned that in the event the lug should become loosened and hang downwardly it would engage an adjacent muntin bar.

3. A Ventilating fan assembly for use in mounting in one or more unglazed spaces in a window having transversely disposed muntin bars, said fan assembly including a rectangular housing projecting outwardly from the muntin bars so as to be located on the outside of the window, an end wall having an air passage opening therein, a tubular sleeve extending throughr the housing and attached to the end wall having the air passage registering with the tubular sleeve, a movably mounted lid overlying the end wall for Closing the air passage opening when the fan is not in use, a fan unit, a grill for supporting the fan unit, means for fixedly attaching the grill in registry with the tubular sleeve, a panel selected from a plurality of panels of various sizes, said panel having an annular opening registering with the opening through the tubular sleeve, said panel having mounted thereon the rectangular housing and the parts supported thereby, fastening means, each of said last mentioned means including a pivotal fastening member mounted adjacent the corner of the panel, and a lug rotatably mounted upon said pivotal fastening member, said lug having a projection offset from the pivotal fastening member, said projection overlapping and engaging the adjacent muntin bars, said offset projection being so positioned that in the event the lug should become loosened and hang downwardly it would engage an adjacent muntin bar.

4. A Ventilating fan assembly for use in mounting in a Window having transversely disposed Imuntin bars dividing the window into spaces some of which are glazed and one or more left unglazed for a Ventilating area, the combination including a panel selected from a plurality of panels of various types, each of said panels being provided with an air passage opening therein, said panels being selected to fit into the ventilating area of the window, a plurality of fastening means, each of said last mentioned means including a pivotal fastening member mounted adjacent the corner of the panel, and a lug rotatably mounted upon said pivotal fastening member, said lug having a projection oset from the pivotal fastening member, said projection overlapping and engaging the adjacent muntin bars, said offset projection being so positioned that in the event the lug should become loosened and hang downwardly it would engage an adjacent muntin bar, an electric fan, a grill, said electric fan being supported by the grill independently of the panel, means for removably attaching the grill having the fan attached theretoJ to the panel so that the fan and the grill may be removed as a unit from the panel Without removing the panel from the Ventilating area of the window, and a movably mounted lid for closing the air passage opening in the panel When the fan is not in use.

5.v A Ventilating fan assembly for use in mounting in a window having transversely disposed muntin bars dividing the Window into spaces some of which are glazed and one or more left unglazed for a Ventilating area, the combination including a panel having an air passage opening therein, said panel being mounted in the ventilating area instead of glazing, fastening means, each of said means including a pivotal fastening member mounted adjacent the corner of the panel, and a lug rotatably mounted upon said pivotal fastening member, said lug having a projection onset from the pivotal fastening membei", said projection overlapping and engaging the adjacent muntin bars, said oset projection being so positioned that in the event the lug should become loosened and hang downwardly it would engage' an adjacent muntin bar.

WALTER A SPEAR. 

